Information processing system, information processing device, information processing method, and information recording medium

ABSTRACT

An information processing system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information record medium that are controlled to generate an operation effect sound that differs for each user of a card upon an operation for electronic money are provided. A card  10  records user information  12 , balance information  13 , and audio data  14 . The card  10  makes a settlement of electronic money with a vending machine  20  to buy a commodity. When the card  10  is presented to the vending machine  20 , it reads the user information  12 , the balance information  13 , and the audio data  14  from the card  10  through wireless communications. The vending machine  20  makes a settlement on the basis of both information of the commodity that a user has selected and the balance information  13 . As a result, the vending machine  20  provides the selected commodity to the user. On the other hand, with audio data  14 , at a predetermined timing of the settlement, a predetermined sound is output. Audio data may be stored only in the vending machine  20  or both in the card  10  and in the vending machine  20 . A sound that differs for each user and for each event is output.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/571,832, filed on Jan. 9, 2007, and is based upon and claims thebenefit of priority from International Application No. PCT/JP05/12719,filed on Jul. 5, 2005, the entire contents of each of these documentsare incorporated herein by reference. This application also claimspriority from prior Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2004-285632 filedon Sep. 19, 2001, and 2002-206444 filed on Jul. 13, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing system, aninformation processing apparatus, an information processing method, andan information record medium that perform a predetermined informationprocess when an operation for electronic money is performed.

BACKGROUND ART

One of technologies that have been spotlighted in recent years is RFID(Radio Frequency Identification). A wireless IC (Integrated Circuit) tagthat uses this technology is made up of a set of a very small IC chipand an antenna. Various types of information are recorded in the IC chipof the wireless IC tag. These information is contactlessly read by areader/writer through the antenna or rewritten by the reader/writer.Unlike a barcode, a wireless IC tag exchanges information as radio waveswith the reader/writer. Thus, the information is not largely affected bydirt, water, dust, and so forth unlike a barcode. In addition, awireless IC tag can communicate data with its reader/writer through anobstacle. Moreover, the reader/writer can simultaneously access aplurality of wireless IC tags.

There are two types of wireless IC tags, an active type that has a powersupply and transmits radio waves to the reader/writer and a passive typethat only receives radio waves from the reader/writer. A passive typethat is currently being spotlighted receives radio waves from thereader/writer through an antenna of the tag and generates power usingtheir inducted electromotive force. With the inducted power, a passivetype wireless IC tag drives the IC to transmit information recorded in amemory to the reader/writer corresponding to radio waves receivedtherefrom or rewrite the information.

Since a passive type wireless IC tag does not have a battery cell, it islighter than an active type wireless IC tag for the weight of thebattery cell. Thus, the production cost of a passive type wireless ICtag is lower than that of an active type wireless IC tag. In addition,since a passive type wireless IC tag can be permanently used, it isexpected that the passive type wireless IC tag will be used for manyfields.

As one of major features of a wireless IC tag, when it is used, it isnot necessary to contact it to the reader/writer. In addition, thedistance for which a wireless IC tag can communicate with thereader/writer ranges from several millimeters to several meters (thatdepend on for example the frequency, output, and antenna that thewireless IC tag uses). Thus, when a wireless IC tag passes near thereader/writer or it is placed on the reader/writer, information can beread or written from and to the memory of the wireless IC tag. Inaddition, when an wireless IC tag passes through a gate, data recordedin the memory can be read. With these features, wireless IC tags havebeen used as contactless IC cards for electronic money, commutingpasses, prepaid cards, and so forth.

As electronic money, there are IC card type electronic money of which adedicated IC chip records currency value data and network typeelectronic money of which software of managing currency value data isinstalled to a personal computer or the like and a settlement is madethrough a network.

Among them, the IC card type electronic money, namely electronic moneyusing a contactless IC card, has been widespread in recent years. Cashregisters and automatic vending machines that can make settlements withthis type IC card have been installed at various locations.

For electronic money using a contactless IC card, it is necessary tocharge the IC card through a charging machine or the like. Thisoperation corresponds to an action of which a person puts money in hisor her purse. At this point, the IC card is placed, for example, on apredetermined portion of the charging machine. When the user pays moneywith the IC card, he or she lightly touches a predetermined portion ofan automatic vending machine or a cash register of a store with the ICcard or passes it therethrough. When the user charges the IC cardthrough a charging machine over again, he or she can pay money with theIC card as many times as he or she wants.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, outlined structures of acontactless IC card used to make a settlement of electronic money, acharging machine through which a contactless IC card is charged withelectronic money, and an automatic vending machine to which payment ismade with electronic money will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a contactless ICcard. Hereinafter, a contactless IC card used to make a settlement ofelectronic money is simply referred to as “card”. A card 300 shown inFIG. 1 is made up of an IC chip 310 and a coil-shaped antenna 320. TheIC chip 310 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 311, a ROM (ReadOnly Memory) 312, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 313, an EEPROM(Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 314, acoprocessor 315, an interface 316, and a bus 317 that mutually connectsthese structural elements. The interface 316 includes an encodingcircuit 318.

The CPU 311 controls the operations of the other structural elements totransmit and receive information between the card and the reader/writerand read and write data such as balance information recorded in thecard. The ROM 312 is a read-only memory used to store a program and soforth that accomplish for example the transmission and reception ofinformation and reading of data. The RAM 313 is a high speed memory thatreads and writes data temporarily used. The EEPROM 314 is a writablememory used to mainly store data such as balance information. Theinterface 316 controls communications between the card and thereader/writer. In particular, the encoding circuit 318 converts datastored in the EEPROM 314 into a transmission code and transmits theconverted code to the reader/writer. The interface 316 also has afunction of receiving data transmitted from the reader/writer,converting the data in a predetermined manner, and updating data storedin the EEPROM 314. The description of this function will be omitted.

The antenna 320 is used to allow the card and the reader/writer tocommunicate with each other and to supply power to the IC chip 310. Asdescribed above, the power is an induced electromotive force based onradio waves transmitted from the reader/writer.

FIG. 2 shows a structure of a front panel portion of the chargingmachine through which the card is charged with electronic money. Thecharging machine is a kind of a reader/writer that rewrites balanceinformation of the card according to money with which the user chargesthe card. The charging machine 400 has an information display section410, a button block 420, a card holding section 430, a bill slot section440, and a speaker 450. First, the user of the card (electronic money)places the card 300 on the card holding section 430. Next, the userselects a button corresponding to the amount of money with which he orshe wants to charge the card 300 from the button block 420 and pressesthe selected button. The button block 420 include buttons correspondingto for example ¥ 1,000, ¥ 3,000, ¥ 5,000, and ¥ 10,000. In addition, thebutton block 420 includes a cancel button that cancels an operation thatthe user has just performed. Thereafter, the user of the card 300inserts a bill corresponding to the amount of money with which he or shewants to charge the card into the bill slot section 440. Thereafter, thecharging machine 400 compares the amount of money corresponding to thebutton the user has pressed with the value of the bill that he or shehas inserted. When they match, the charging machine 400 displays theamount of money on the information display section 410 and updates thebalance information of the card 300. Thereafter, the charging machine400 causes the information display section 410 to display a message thatnotifies the user that he or she can remove the card 300 from the cardholding section 430.

In contrast, when the amount of money corresponding to the button thatthe user has pressed does not match the value of the bill that he or shehas inserted, the charging machine 400 causes the information displaysection 410 to display a predetermined error message. For example, whenthe user has tried to deposit money whose amount exceeds the depositableamount in the charging machine or when the charging machine 400 cannotread information from the card 300, the charging machine 400 causes theinformation display section 410 to display a message that describes thecontents of such an error and proper counteractions.

When the card 300 has been properly charged with money, the speaker 450outputs a predetermined sound that denotes that the card 300 has beencharged with money. For example, this operation is performed at the sametiming as the timing at which the information display section 410displays a message that denotes that the balance information of the card300 has been updated and the card 300 can be removed from the cardholding section 430. When the information display section 410 displaysan error message, the speaker 450 may not output a sound or may output apredetermined sound that is different from the sound that is output whenthe card 300 has been charged. Thus, the user of the charging machine400 can know that the card 300 has been correctly charged by imageinformation (including text information) that the information displaysection 410 displays and audio information that the speaker 450 outputs.

FIG. 3 shows a structure of a front panel portion of the automaticvending machine that can make a settlement of electronic money. Theautomatic vending machine is a kind of a reader/write that rewritesbalance information of the card according to an electronic moneysettlement command issued by the user of the card. The automatic vendingmachine 500 has an information display section 510, a commodity displaysection 520, a button block 530, a card information detecting section540, a coin slot section 550, and a speaker 560. The user of theautomatic vending machine 500 checks a commodity that he or she wants tobuy and its price on the commodity display section 520. Thereafter, theuser selects a button corresponding to the commodity that he or shewants to buy from the button block 530 and presses the selected button.Thereafter, the user moves the his or her own card 300 so that it passesnear the card information detecting section 540 or lightly touches it.The automatic vending machine 500 obtains balance information from thecard 300 through the card information detecting section 540. When thebalance of the electronic money is greater than the price of thecommodity that the user has selected, the automatic vending machine 500makes the settlement and conveys the selected commodity to a commodityslot. At this point, when necessary, the automatic vending machine 500causes the information display section 510 to display a messagedescribing that the settlement has been made.

In contrast, when it has been determined that the balance of theelectronic money of the card 300 is lower than the price of the selectedcommodity according to the balance information of the card 300 or whenthe automatic vending machine 500 has failed to read the balanceinformation from the card 300, the contents of the error is displayed onthe information display section 510. When the user inserts a necessarycoin into the coin slot section 550 of the automatic vending machine500, he or she can buy his or her selected commodity without the card300.

When the settlement has been properly made with the card 300, thespeaker 560 outputs a sound denoting that the settlement has been made.This operation is performed, for example, at the same timing at whichthe message describing that the settlement has been made is displayed onthe information display section 510. For example, this sound is the sameas the sound used in the charging machine 400. When an error hasoccurred, the speaker 560 does not output a sound like the chargingmachine 400. Instead, the speaker 560 may output a sound different fromthe sound denoting that the settlement has been made. Thus, the user ofthe automatic vending machine 500 can know that the settlement has beenmade, namely the commodity has been correctly bought by imageinformation that the information display section 510 displays and audioinformation that the speaker 560 outputs.

When electronic money is used with a contactless IC card, a commodityand a service can be easily bought without cash. In addition, the cardcan be charged in the same manner that a commodity is bought from aregular automatic vending machine that accepts cash. However, if theuser incorrectly places or presents the card on or to the chargingmachine 400 and the automatic vending machine 500, a settlement processfor electronic money including a charging operation for electronic moneyand a commodity buying operation will be unsuccessfully performed. As aresult, the user will be forced to repeat the same operation. To preventthis situation, related art described in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2002-197419 proposes an automatic vending machine that ismodified to have a guidance means that causes the user to place a cardat a proper position by a display and a sound.

However, in conventional charging machines for electronic money andautomatic vending machines using electronic money, image information andaudio information that are output when a settlement operation has beenproperly performed and image information and audio information that areoutput when an error has occurred are constant, not changed. Thus,several problems occur.

If these charging machines and automatic vending machines are installednearby, when users of the cards perform settlement operations in thesecharging machines and automatic vending machines, each user may notdistinguish a sound that is generated from a machine that he or sheperforms the settlement operation from others. As a result, it isdifficult for each user of a charging machine or an automatic vendingmachine to quickly determine whether he or she can finish the settlementoperation or has to repeat it again.

Moreover, in conventional charging machines and automatic vendingmachines, image information and audio information that are output when asettlement operation has been properly performed are different fromthose that are output when an error has occurred. However, for example,when the settlement operation has been properly performed, the samesound is output. Thus, conventional charging machines and automaticvending machines do not have a taste of entertainment. As a result, whenusers operate these machines, they do not have a fresh impression fromtheir settlement operation, but feel monotonous.

These problems are not solved by the improvement proposed in the relatedart of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-197419. In otherwords, even if charging machines and automatic vending machines aremodified in such a manner, it is not easy for the user who performs thesettlement operation to distinguish his or hers from others by imageinformation and audio information. In addition, entertainment propertiesof machines have not been sufficiently improved.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide aninformation processing system, an information processing apparatus, aninformation processing method, and an information record medium that arecontrolled to generate an operation effect sound that differs for eachuser (card) of electronic money when an operation for the electronicmoney is performed.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide aninformation processing system, an information processing apparatus, aninformation processing method, and an information record medium that arecontrolled to change an operation effect sound on the basis ofinformation about a user of electronic money, environmental information,and so forth.

A first aspect of the present invention is an information processingsystem, comprising an information record medium which recordspredetermined information; and an information processing apparatusincludes: information reading means for reading predeterminedinformation recorded in the information record medium, and output meansfor outputting at least one of a sound and an image according to asequence of operations which a user of the information record mediumperforms therefor, wherein the output means outputs the sound and/or theimage according to the information record medium from which theinformation reading means has read the predetermined information.

A second aspect of the present invention is the information processingsystem of the first aspect, wherein the predetermined informationcontains identification information with which the information recordmedium is identified, and wherein the output means identifies sound dataused to output the sound and/or image data used to output the imageaccording to the identification information.

A third aspect of the present invention is the information processingsystem of the first aspect, wherein the predetermined informationcontains the sound data and/or the image data, and wherein the outputmeans identifies sound data used to output the sound and/or image dataused to output the image from the sound data and/or the image datacontained in the predetermined information.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the information processingsystem of the first aspect, wherein the output means outputs the soundand/or the image according to a predetermined condition, and wherein thepredetermined condition contains at least one of a condition about thepredetermined information and a condition about the operations which theuser performs.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the information processingsystem of the fourth aspect, wherein the output means selects differentsound data and/or image data as data used to output the sound and/or theimage when the sound and/or the image that differs according to thepredetermined condition is output.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the information processingsystem of the fourth aspect, wherein the output means processes ortransforms sound data and/or image data used to output the sound and/orthe image when the sound and/or the image which differs according to thepredetermined condition is output.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is an information processingapparatus comprising information reading means for reading predeterminedinformation recorded in an information record medium, and output meansfor outputting at least one of a sound and an image according to asequence of operations which a user of the information record mediumperforms therefor, wherein the output means outputs the sound and/or theimage according to the information record medium from which theinformation reading means has read the predetermined information.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is the information processingapparatus of the seventh aspect, wherein the predetermined informationcontains identification information with which the information recordmedium is identified, and wherein the output means identifies sound dataused to output the sound and/or image data used to output the imageaccording to the identification information.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is the information processingapparatus of the seventh aspect, wherein the predetermined informationcontains the sound data and/or the image data, and wherein the outputmeans identifies sound data used to output the sound and/or image dataused to output the image from the sound data and/or the image datacontained in the predetermined information.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is the information processingapparatus of the seventh aspect, wherein the output means outputs thesound and/or the image according to a predetermined condition, andwherein the predetermined condition contains at least one of a conditionabout the predetermined information and a condition about the operationswhich the user performs.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the informationprocessing apparatus of the tenth aspect, wherein the output meansselects different sound data and/or image data as data used to outputthe sound and/or the image when the sound and/or the image that differsaccording to the predetermined condition is output.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the information processingapparatus of the tenth aspect, wherein the output means processes ortransforms sound data and/or image data used to output the sound and/orthe image when the sound and/or the image which differs according to thepredetermined condition is output.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is an informationprocessing method comprising the steps of reading predeterminedinformation recorded in an information record medium, and outputting atleast one of a sound and an image according to a sequence of operationswhich a user of the information record medium performs therefor, whereinthe output step is performed by outputting the sound and/or the imageaccording to the information record medium from which the predeterminedinformation has been read at the information reading step.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the informationprocessing method of the thirteenth aspect, wherein the predeterminedinformation contains identification information with which theinformation record medium is identified, and wherein the output step isperformed by identifying sound data used to output the sound and/orimage data used to output the image according to the identificationinformation.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the informationprocessing method of the thirteenth aspect, wherein the predeterminedinformation contains the sound data and/or the image data, and whereinthe output step is performed by identifying sound data used to outputthe sound and/or image data used to output the image from the sound dataand/or the image data contained in the predetermined information.

A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the informationprocessing method of the thirteenth aspect, wherein the output step isperformed by outputting the sound and/or the image according to apredetermined condition, and wherein the predetermined conditioncontains at least one of a condition about the predetermined informationand a condition about the operations which the user performs.

A seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the informationprocessing method of the sixteenth aspect, wherein the output step isperformed by selecting different sound data and/or image data as dataused to output the sound and/or the image when the sound and/or theimage that differs according to the predetermined condition is output.

An eighteenth aspect of the present invention is the informationprocessing method of the sixteenth aspect, wherein the output step isperformed by processing or transforming sound data and/or image dataused to output the sound and/or the image when the sound and/or theimage which differs according to the predetermined condition is output.

A nineteenth aspect of the present invention is an information recordmedium on which predetermined information containing at least one ofsound data and image data is recorded, wherein at least one of the sounddata and/or the image data is read by an information processingapparatus, and wherein the information processing apparatus outputs asound and/or an image with the sound data and/or the image data when auser of the information record medium performs a sequence of operationsof the information processing apparatus for the information recordmedium.

According to the first to nineteenth aspects of the present invention,when information record mediums are different, different sounds andimages are output from an information processing apparatus that operateswith information record mediums. Sounds and images that are differentare output in at least two methods. In the first method, data used tooutput sounds and images are changed. In the second method, data used tooutput sounds and images are maintained, but processed and/ortransformed.

According to the present invention, when an operation for electronicmoney is performed, an effect sound corresponding to a user of aninformation record medium such as a contactless IC card (electronicmoney) is selected and output. Thus, even if a plurality of nearby usersperform a settlement operation for electronic money, each user caneasily distinguish an effect sound of his or her settlement operationfor electronic money from others. Thus, each user can appropriately knowwhether his or her settlement operation is being or has been properlyperformed.

In addition, according to the present invention, an effect sound of anoperation for electronic money is changed on the basis ofcharacteristics of a user of a card (electronic money) and output. Thus,an aged user or a hearing handicapped user can easily distinguish aneffect sound of his or her settlement operation for electronic moneyfrom others.

In addition, according to the present invention, since an effect soundabout an operation for electronic money is selected and/or changed onthe basis of a predetermined condition such as environmental informationand so forth, it is expected that a user of the card (electronic money)is prevented from monotonously operating his or her settlement operationand provides him or her with a sense of freshness and a taste ofentertainment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a conventionalcontactless IC card that can make a settlement of electronic money;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a front panelportion of a conventional electronic money charging machine;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a front panelportion of a conventional automatic vending machine from which a usercan buy a commodity with electronic money;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of aninformation processing system according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of audio data recordedin a card of the information processing system according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an operation of the informationprocessing system according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of aninformation processing system according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are schematic diagrams showing examples of audiodata recorded in a vending machine in the information processing systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of aninformation processing system according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an operation of the informationprocessing system according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of aninformation processing system according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram describing an outlined effect soundselection process in the information processing system according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of aninformation processing system according to a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram describing an outlined effect soundselection process in the information processing system according to thefifth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of which a functionof wirelessly making a settlement of electronic money is embedded in amobile phone.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First, with reference to FIG. 4, an information processing systemaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed. According to this embodiment, audio data have been recordedin a card. When a vending machine outputs a predetermined operationeffect sound, the vending machine uses the audio data recorded in thecard.

An information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 4 is a system made upof a card 10 and a vending machine 20. Although the basic structure ofthe card 10 is the same as that of the card 300 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4shows only structural elements largely related to the present invention.In this embodiment, user information 12, balance information 13, andaudio data 14 have been recorded in a memory 11 (corresponding to theEEPROM 314 shown in FIG. 1).

The user information 12 contains ID information with which the user ofthe card is identified or ID information unique to the card. The balanceinformation 13 contains information representing the balance ofelectronic money of the card. The audio data 14 contains one or aplurality of items of effect sound data. The effect sound data have beenrecorded in the card 10 by its user. The user of the card 10 candownload effect sound data from a terminal unit, which vends the card10, a personal computer, or the like. The user can select his or herdesired effect sound from those of a download site or the like disposedon a network such as the Internet and download the selected effect soundtherefrom. Effect sounds include any types of sounds such as music andvoice.

When the user buys the card 10, he or she may be caused to select atleast one of items of effect sound data (with a card vending terminal orthe like) and to store the selected effect sound data in the card 10.

It is expected that the audio data 14 recorded in the memory 11 of thecard 10 are dynamically transferred to the vending machine 20 through anencoding circuit 15 and quickly reproduced on the vending machine 20side when the user buys a commodity with the card 10. This, it ispreferred that the size of the effect sound data be as small aspossible. If the size of the effect sound data is large, it may take atime until an effect sound is reproduced. Thus, the effect sound may notbe reproduced at a proper timing. Thus, as the audio data 14, it isthought that the audio data 14 are data according to for example adigital interface standard such as MIDI (Musical Instrument DigitalInterface), a digital audio converting standard such as ADPCM (AdaptiveDifferential Pulse Code Modulation), or an audio compressing standardused in MPEG-4 (Moving Picture Experts Group phase 4) or MPEG-2 (MovingPicture Experts Group phase 2) such as AAC (Advanced Audio Coding).Thus, the audio data 14 contain sound data such as voice data, audiodata, and cue data. Instead, the audio data 14 may contain audio datawith which a part or whole of music is reproduced.

The encoding circuit 15 corresponds to the encoding circuit 318 of theinterface 316 of the card 300 shown in FIG. 1. The encoding circuit 15converts the user information 12, the balance information 13, and theaudio data 14 into transmission codes and transmits the converted codesto the vending machine 20.

The vending machine 20 is made up of an operation detecting section 21,a commodity information obtaining section 22, an audio data selectiondetermining section 23, a decoding circuit 24, a user informationobtaining section 25, a balance information obtaining section 26, anaudio data obtaining section 27, an audio data decoding section 28, anaudio output section 29, and a settlement controlling section 30.

The operation detecting section 21 detects a button operation and soforth that the user who tries to buy a commodity from the vendingmachine 20 has performed to select the commodity. When the user hasperformed the button operation, the operation detecting section 21transmits information about the selected commodity to the commodityinformation obtaining section 22.

When the commodity information obtaining section 22 has obtainedinformation about the commodity that the user has selected from theoperation detecting section 21, the commodity information obtainingsection 22 obtains the sales price of the commodity from a predeterminedfile or the like. Instead, the sales price may be transmitted from theoperation detecting section 21.

The decoding circuit 24 reads from the card 10 the user information 12,the balance information 13, and the audio data 14 that have been encodedby the encoding circuit 15 of the card 10. Thereafter, the decodingcircuit 24 decodes the user information 12, the balance information 13,and the audio data 14 and transmits the decoded information to the userinformation obtaining section 25, the balance information obtainingsection 26, and the audio data obtaining section 27, respectively.

The audio data selection determining section 23 selects effect sounddata to be reproduced on the basis of the information about thecommodity obtained by the commodity information obtaining section 22,the sales price thereof, the user information 12 obtained by the userinformation obtaining section 25, the balance information 13 obtained bythe balance information obtaining section 26, and the audio data 14obtained by the audio data obtaining section 27.

The audio data decoding section 28 obtains identification information ofthe selected audio data from the audio data selection determiningsection 23 and obtains the identified effect sound data from the audiodata obtaining section 27. It is thought that there are several methodsof identifying one item of effect sound data from the audio data 14obtained by the audio data obtaining section 27.

With reference to FIG. 5, one example of these methods will bedescribed. FIG. 5 shows the contents of the audio data 14 stored in thecard 10. The audio data 14 are formed to contain a plurality of items ofeffect sound data and unique identification numbers correlatedtherewith. For example, effect sound data 1 are correlated withidentification number 0001. Effect sound data 2 are correlated withidentification number 0002. The audio data obtaining section 27 obtainsthe contents of the audio data 14 from the card 10 and holds it. On theother hand, the audio data selection determining section 23 of thevending machine 20 selects effect sound data by deciding theidentification number on the basis of the information about, sales priceof, and so forth of the commodity to be reproduced, obtained by thecommodity information obtaining section 22. Thereafter, the audio datadecoding section 28 obtains the identification number as identificationinformation from the audio data selection determining section 23,obtains effect sound data corresponding to the identification numberfrom the audio data obtaining section 27, and decodes the effect sounddata to be reproduced.

When such a method is used, each identification number can be assigned aunique meaning. For example, if the audio data selection determiningsection 23 of the vending machine 20 selects identification number 0001in the case that the settlement has been successfully made andidentification number 0002 in the case that the settlement has not beensuccessfully made, when the user of the card 10 downloads an effectsound reproduced in the case that the settlement has been successfullymade and assigns the effect sound to identification number 0001 and aneffect sound reproduced in the case that the settlement has not beensuccessfully made to identification number 0002, the vending machine 20can be caused to reproduce desired effect sounds that user has set upaccording to the result of the settlement of electronic money.

Since each user of the card 10 can freely set up effect sounds (namely,he or she can freely select effect sounds and assign them toidentification numbers), effect sounds may differ for each user of thecard 10. Like the download operation of effect sounds, each user can setup effect sounds with a terminal unit that vends the card 10, a personalcomputer, or the like.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, each item of effect sound data isassigned a unique identification number. Instead, effect sound data maybe identified by only record positions without a record area foridentification numbers. For example, effect sound data at the firstposition of the memory 11 of the card 10 can be distinguished fromeffect sound data at the next position (entry).

When it is not necessary to reproduce predetermined effect soundsaccording to predetermined conditions, at least different effect soundsmay be reproduced according to conditions. Identification information isgenerated so that when the settlement has been successfully made, theaudio data selection determining section 23 of the vending machine 20selects effect sound data of a predetermined entry of the audio data 14obtained by the audio data obtaining section 27 and when the settlementhas not been successfully made, the audio data selection determiningsection 23 selects effect sound data of other than the predeterminedentry of the audio data 14.

In addition, the audio data selection determining section 23 of thevending machine 20 can be controlled to randomly select effect sounddata from the audio data 14 obtained by the audio data obtaining section27. In addition, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, effectsound data may be randomly selected from effect sound data of apredetermined group (according to a condition) of the audio data 14.These effect sounds may be generated at any timing.

As the simplest structure of the information processing system 1, oneitem of effect sound data stored in the card 10 may be directlyreproduced by the vending machine 20. This structure allows an effectsound to differ for each user of cards 10. Thus, even if many vendingmachines 20 are installed nearby, each user can distinguish his or heareffect sound from others. In this case, it is necessary for the audiodata selection determining section 23 of the vending machine 20 to haveat least information about the timing at which an effect sound isgenerated.

When an effect sound is generated corresponding to a predeterminedoperation, it is necessary to obtain a notification of the operationfrom the operation detecting section 21. When effect sounds aregenerated depending on whether the settlement has been successfully madeor not successfully made due to the insufficient balance, it isnecessary to obtain the prices information of the commodity from thecommodity information obtaining section 22 and the balance informationof the card 10 from the balance information obtaining section 26.

Returning to the description for the structural elements of the vendingmachine 20, the effect sound data decoded by the audio data decodingsection 28 are transmitted to the audio output section 29 such as aspeaker. The audio output section 29 outputs the effect sound data.

In addition, the vending machine 20 has the settlement controllingsection 30. The settlement controlling section 30 determines whether thesettlement has been successfully made on the basis of the informationabout a commodity to be bought, obtained by the commodity informationobtaining section 22, a sales price thereof, the and the balanceinformation 13 obtained by the balance information obtaining section 26.In other words, when the balance information represents the amount ofmoney that is equal to or greater than the sales price of the selectedcommodity, the transaction is conducted and the settlement is made.

When the settlement controlling section 30 has determined that thesettlement has been successfully made, the settlement controllingsection 30 controls the vending machine 20 to display a predeterminedindication and convey the commodity to the commodity slot. In contrast,when the settlement controlling section 30 has determined that thesettlement has not been successfully made, the settlement controllingsection 30 controls the vending machine 20 to display a predeterminederror indication. In addition, when the settlement has been successfullymade, the settlement controlling section 30 controls the vending machine20 to rewrite the balance information 13 of the card 10 (specifically,the balance is updated by a predetermined encoding circuit and adecoding circuit (not shown)). These functions of the settlementcontrolling section 30 are the same as those of conventional vendingmachines. In other embodiments of the present invention, the descriptionof functions corresponding to the settlement controlling section 30 willbe omitted.

In this example, the vending machine 20 (so-called automatic vendingmachine) from which a commodity can be bought with electronic money isdescribed. However, the structures of machines that provide particularservices such as an automatic massage machine are the same as thestructure of the vending machine 20. In these machines, when thesettlement has been successfully made, the settlement controllingsection 30 causes each structural element of the machine to perform apredetermined operation for a predetermined service.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the vending machine 20reproduces audio data (effect sound data). However, the presentinvention is not limited to this example. In other words, the presentinvention may be applied to a structure that reproduces image datainstead of or in addition to audio data. In this case, image datacontain still picture data according to JPEG (Joint Photographic ExpertsGroup) or GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) and moving picture dataaccording to for example MPEG-4 or MPEG-2. These data are recorded inthe memory 11 of the card 10. On the other hand, the vending machine 20also has an image display section composed of an LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay) or the like. The audio data decoding section 28 decodes imagedata obtained by the audio data obtaining section 27 into a displayableformat and transmits the decoded image data to the image displaysection.

The image display section may be simply composed of only a plurality ofLEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). In this case, it is thought that imagedata recorded in the memory 11 of the card 10 are simple bit data, forexample, positions of LEDs that are blinked, blink start timings, andblinking durations.

In this structure, the user of the information processing system 1according to the present invention can know the result of the settlementof electronic money not only by effect sounds, but by images. Thisstructure is very effective for an aged user and a hearing handicappeduser.

In other embodiments of the present invention, for convenience, onlyaudio data will be handled. However, as described above, like audiodata, image data can be also handled. Thus, it should be noted that thepresent invention is not related to only audio data.

Next, with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 6, an operation ofthe vending machine 20 will be described. In the operation of thevending machine 20, a plurality of items of effect sound data have beenrecorded as the audio data 14 in the card 10. The vending machine 20determines at least whether a settlement has been successfully made ornot successfully made (due to insufficient balance). Depending on thesecases, the vending machine 20 generates different effect sounds of theaudio data 14.

At first step S10, it is determined whether the user has operated thevending machine 20. When the user has not operated the vending machine20 (No at step S10), the determination of step S10 is repeated atintervals of a predetermined time period until the user has operated thevending machine 20. When the determined result denotes that the user hasoperated the vending machine 20 (Yes at step S10), the audio dataselection determining section 23 obtains information about a commoditythat the user has selected from the commodity information obtainingsection 22 (at step S11). The commodity information obtaining section 22outputs these information on the basis of information received from theoperation detecting section 21.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step S12. At step S12, the user isprompted to make a settlement of electronic money. This operation isperformed by either or both of an effect sound and an image that thevending machine 20 side provides. For example, “Present the card here”is announced or displayed. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S13. Atstep S13, it is determined whether the user has presented the card tothe vending machine 20. The card is presented for example by touching acard information detecting section (not shown) with the card orgradually passing the card therethrough. The card information detectingsection is similar to the card information detecting section 540 of theautomatic vending machine 500 shown in FIG. 3. When the user has notpresented the card to the vending machine 20 (No at step S13), thedetermination of step S13 is repeated at intervals of a predeterminedtime period until the user has presented the card. When the user haspresented the card (Yes at step S13), the flow advances to step S14. Atstep S14, the decoding circuit 24 decodes various types of informationtransmitted from the card.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step S15. At step S15, the audio dataselection determining section 23 obtains the user information 12 and thebalance information 13 from the decoded data. At this point, the audiodata selection determining section 23 has obtained the commodityinformation about the commodity that the user has selected (that theuser tries to buy) and the user information 12 and the balanceinformation 13 of the card 10. Thereafter, at step S16, the audio dataselection determining section 23 determines an effect sound to bereproduced on the basis of each of the foregoing information andtransmits identification information to the audio data decoding section28. Specifically, when the sales price of the selected commodity islower than the balance of the card 10, it is determined that thesettlement has been successfully made. In this case, an identificationnumber (for example, 0001) corresponding an effect sound that representsthe determined result is output as identification information. Incontrast, when the sales price of the selected commodity is greater thanthe balance of the card 10 (insufficient balance), it is determined thatthe settlement has not been successfully made. In this case, anidentification number (for example, 0002) corresponding to an effectsound that represents the determined result is output as identificationinformation.

Thereafter, at step S17, the audio data decoding section 28 identifiesan effect sound to be reproduced from the audio data 14 obtained fromthe audio data obtaining section 27 on the basis of the identificationinformation received from the audio data selection determining section23. At step S18, the audio data decoding section 28 decodes the effectsound data to be reproduced. Thereafter, at step S19, the decoded dataare transmitted to the audio output section 29. The audio output section29 outputs the effect sound.

In the foregoing example of the first embodiment of the presentinvention, data are exchanged between the card 10 and the vendingmachine 20. However, it is not necessary to limit the informationprocessing system according to the present invention to a vendingmachine that provides a commodity and a service. Aside from such avending machine, this system may be applied to various types of machinesthat make settlements of electronic money, such as an electronic moneycharging machine, a cash register used in a store, and an automaticticket gate machine. For an electronic money charging machine, such aprocess may be performed between the card 10 and the electronic moneycharging machine. The charging process of electronic money can beconsidered as the same process as an settlement process of a commoditybought from a vending machine because electronic money is bought incash.

Specifically, the charging machine obtains the audio data 14 from thecard 10. When the settlement has been successfully made, for example theamount of money that the user has designated as deposit money matchesthe amount of a bill that he or she has inserted, a predetermined effectsound of the audio data 14 is output from the speaker of the chargingmachine. In addition, the balance information 13 of electronic money ofthe card 10 is rewritten. When the settlement has not been successfullymade, for example, the amount of money that the user has designated asthe deposit money exceeds the maximum amount of money that the chargingmachine can accept or the amount of money that the user has designatedas the deposit money does not match the amount of a bill that he or shehas inserted, the predetermined effect sound or another effect soundthat is different therefrom is output from the speaker.

Aside from a vending machine and a charging machine, as long as aninformation apparatus can access a card that can make a settlement ofelectronic money and references or updates the contents recorded in thecard, the information apparatus may become a structural element of theinformation processing system according to the present invention. Inaddition, according to the present invention, it is not necessary thatthe present invention is based on the use of electronic money or thesettlement function of electronic money. In the information processingsystem according to the present invention, predetermined information isread from an information record medium having any structure. An effectsound and so forth are output according to an operation for theinformation record medium. The output effect sound differs for eachinformation record medium.

Thus, the foregoing card is not limited to a contactless IC card. Inother words, the foregoing card may be an information record mediumhaving any structure that can store predetermined data and that cancommunicate data with a vending machine and so forth. For example, aninformation record medium may be a mobile phone or a portable devicehaving a communication function such as Bluetooth (registeredtrademark).

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, FIG. 8A, and FIG. 8B, an informationprocessing system according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention will be described. In an information processing system 50shown in FIG. 7, a card 60 does not have audio data. Instead, a vendingmachine 70 side has audio data. An audio data recording section 77 ofthe vending machine 70 stores a plurality of items of effect sound data.As shown in FIG. 8A, the audio data recording section 77 stores aplurality of items of effect sound data (effect sound data 1 to effectsound data 10), for example, corresponding to identification IDs.

To generate an effect sound, an audio data selection determining section73 of the vending machine 70 obtains an identification ID that is uniqueto the user of the card 60 (or that identifies the card 60) from theuser information obtaining section 75. The identification ID is providedto an audio data decoding section 78. As a result, the audio datadecoding section 78 retrieves effect sound data corresponding to theidentification ID from the audio data recording section 77. In the casethat the contents of the audio data recording section 77 are formed asshown in FIG. 8A, when the audio data selection determining section 73provides identification ID 0003 to the audio data decoding section 78,it selects effect sound data 3 corresponding to identification ID 0003,decodes effect sound data 3 to be reproduced, and sends the decodedeffect sound data to an audio output section 79.

A part of an identification ID, for example, two low-order digits of afour digit number of an identification ID, identifies effect sound data.For example, the two high-order digits of the identification ID identifyan organization code, whereas the two low-order digits identify apersonal code. In this structure, although the same effect sound may begenerated for a plurality of users (the cards 60), the same effect soundis not generated for users in the same department. As a result, theamount of effect sound data stored in the vending machine 70 can bedecreased.

In this structure, even if the card 60 does not have audio data, thevending machine 70 can be controlled so that an effect sound thatdiffers for each user of the card 60 is generated. As described above,since the communication bandwidth between the card 60 and the vendingmachine 70 is not large, it can be said that the structure that does notexchange audio data therebetween is preferable. In addition, since thevending machine 70 side that reproduces effect sounds has effect sounddata, effect sound data that have a relatively large size can be easilyreproduced.

Instead, the contents of the audio data recording section 77 may beformed as shown in FIG. 8B. In this example, effect sound data are setfor each identification ID and each identification number. Like theforegoing case, the audio data selection determining section 73 obtainsan identification ID from a user information obtaining section 75. Inaddition, the audio data selection determining section 73 setsidentification numbers to effect sounds so that different effect soundsare generated depending on the result of a settlement of electronicmoney and transmits the obtained identification ID and theidentification number to the audio data decoding section 78. As aresult, the audio data decoding section 78 retrieves effect sound datacorresponding to the identification ID and identification number, whichhave been received from the audio data selection determining section 73,from the audio data recording section 77. If the contents of the audiodata recording section 77 are formed, for example, as shown in FIG. 8B,when the audio data decoding section 78 has received identification ID0002 and identification number 0002 as identification information fromthe audio data selection determining section 73, the audio data decodingsection 78 selects effect sound data 2B corresponding to theidentification information, decodes them, and sends the decoded data tothe audio output section 79.

This structure allows an effect sound that differs for each user of thecard 60 to be used. In addition, this structure allows an effect soundthat differs for each cause to be used for the same user.

The contents of the audio data recording section 77 shown in FIG. 8A andFIG. 8B are just examples. In other words, the contents of the audiodata recording section 77 may be formed in various manners. In addition,when the vending machine 70 can be connected to a network such as theInternet, audio data having the same contents can be distributed to aplurality of vending machines 70. In this example, it is assumed thateffect sounds of the audio data recording section 77 are effect soundsthat can be freely set by a third party other than the user of the card60. However, each user of the card 60 can select audio data and set anidentification number to the selected audio data, for example, with acharging machine or a personal computer connected to the network.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, an information processingsystem according to a third embodiment will be described. In aninformation processing system 100 shown in FIG. 9, audio data arerecorded both on a card 110 and in a vending machine 120. In otherwords, audio data 114 are recorded in a memory 111 of the card 110. Inaddition, audio data are recorded in an audio data recording section 130of the vending machine 120.

It is assumed that the audio data 114 on the card 110 are effect sounddata set by the user, whereas effect sound data in the audio datarecording section 130 of the vending machine 120 are effect soundsfreely set by other than the user of the card 110. In addition, it isassumed that there may be the case that each item of effect sound datahas not been set, namely there are no effect sound data. When the card110 has the audio data 114, the information processing system 100preferentially uses effect sound data of the audio data 114 as an effectsound. In contrast, when the card 110 does not have the audio data 114,the information processing system 100 uses effect sound data that havebeen recorded in the audio data recording section 130 of the vendingmachine 120.

The structure of the information processing system 100 is basically thesame as that of the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 4except that an audio data decoding section 128 obtains effect sound datanot only from an audio data obtaining section 127 but from the audiodata recording section 130.

Next, with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 10, an operation ofthe information processing system 100 will be described. In thisexample, it is assumed that the audio data 114 in the card 110 are audiodata as shown in FIG. 5, whereas audio data recorded in the audio datarecording section 130 of the vending machine 120 are audio data as shownin FIG. 8B.

At first step S20, it is determined whether the user has operated thevending machine 120. When the user has not operated the vending machine120 (No at step S20), the determination of step S20 is repeated atintervals of a predetermined time period until the user has operated thevending machine 120. When the determined result denotes that the userhas operated the vending machine 120 (Yes at step S20), the audio dataselection determining section 123 obtains information about a commoditythat the user has selected from the commodity information obtainingsection 122 (at step S21). The commodity information obtaining section122 outputs these information on the basis of information and so forthreceived from the operation detecting section 121.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step S22. At step S22, the user isprompted to make a settlement of electronic money. This operation isperformed with either or both an effect sound and an image provided onthe vending machine 120 side. For example, “Present the card here.” isannounced or displayed. Thereafter, at step S23, it is determinedwhether the user has presented the card to the vending machine 120. Whenthe user has not presented the card to the vending machine 120 (No atstep S23), the determination of step S23 is repeated at intervals of apredetermined time period until the user has presented the card to thevending machine 120. When the user has presented the card to the vendingmachine 120 (Yes at step S23), the flow advances to step S24. At stepS24, the decoding circuit 124 decodes information transmitted from thecard.

Thereafter, at step S25, the audio data selection determining section123 obtains the user information 112 and the balance information 113from the decoded data. At this point, the audio data selectiondetermining section 123 has obtained commodity information about acommodity that the user has selected (tires to buy), the userinformation 112, and the balance information of the card 110. At stepS26, the audio data selection determining section 123 determines aneffect sound to be reproduced on the basis of those information andtransmits identification information to the audio data decoding section128.

In this case, identification information is an identification IDobtained from the user information 112 and an identification numberassigned to an effect sound to be reproduced. For example, when thesales prices of the commodity that the user has selected is lower thanthe balance of the card 110, it is determined that the settlement hasbeen successfully made and outputs an identification number (forexample, 0001) and an identification ID corresponding to an effect soundthat represents the result of the settlement as identificationinformation. In contrast, when the sales price of the commodity that theuser has selected is greater than the balance of the card 110 (namely,in the case of insufficient balance) or when an error has occurred dueto a read error of the card 110, it is determined that the settlementhas not been successfully made and outputs an identification number (forexample, 0002) and an identification ID corresponding to an effect soundthat represents the result of the settlement as identificationinformation.

Thereafter, at step S27, it is determined whether the audio dataobtaining section 127 has obtained the audio data 114 of the card 110.When the audio data 114 have been obtained (Yes at step S27), the audiodata decoding section 128 identifies an effect sound to be reproducedfrom the audio data 114 obtained from the audio data obtaining section127 on the basis of the identification number received from the audiodata selection determining section 123 and obtains the effect sound data(at step S28). In contrast, when the audio data 114 have not beenobtained (No at step S27), the audio data decoding section 128identifies an effect sound to be reproduced from audio data recorded inthe audio data recording section 130 on the basis of the identificationinformation (an identification ID and an identification number) receivedfrom the audio data selection determining section 123 and obtains theeffect sound data (at step S29).

When the audio data 114 have not been obtained, since the user of thecard 110 had not downloaded the audio data 114, the card 110 does nothave the audio data 114. In this case, an effect sound recorded in thevending machine 120 is used. In this example, an effect sound thatdiffers for each identification ID and for each identification number isprovided in the vending machine 120. If the audio data 114 have not beenrecorded in the card 110 as an exceptional case, it is possible torecord one type of or at most several types of effect sounds in thevending machine 120.

The effect sound data obtained at step S28 or step S29 are decoded andreproduced at step S30. Thereafter, at step S31, the decoded data aretransmitted to the audio output section 129. The audio output section129 outputs the effect sound.

In this structure, when a settlement of electronic money is made, aneffect sound that has been set by the user of the card 110 is output.When an effect sound has not been set by the user, an effect soundprovided in the vending machine 120 is output.

Next, an information processing system according to a fourth embodimentof the present invention will be described. An information processingsystem 150 according to the fourth embodiment is a modification of theinformation processing systems according to the second embodiment andthe third embodiment. Thus, the information processing system 150 can beapplied to the information processing systems according to the secondembodiment and the third embodiment. However, for convenience, anexample of which the information processing system 100 according to thethird embodiment is modified will be described with reference to FIG. 11and FIG. 12.

In the information processing system 150 shown in FIG. 11, a card 160has the same structure as the card 110 of the information processingsystem 100 shown in FIG. 9 except that the card 160 has as userinformation 162 information about a user of the card 160, namelyinformation such as age, sex, and birth date of the user aside from anidentification ID. On the other hand, a vending machine 170 also has anenvironmental information obtaining section 181 in comparison with thestructure of the vending machine 120 of the information processingsystem 100. The environmental information obtaining section 181 providesnew information to an audio data selection determining section 173.

The environmental information obtaining section 181 providesenvironmental information to the audio data selection determiningsection 173. The environmental information includes, for example, thetoday's date, current time, current season, installed place of thevending machine 170, and information such as temperature, humidity, windspeed, and rainfall in the installed place of the vending machine 170.Thus, the environmental information obtaining section 181 has a clockcircuit that obtains information of date, time, season, and so forth, arecording means in which the installed place of the vending machine 170is pre-recorded, a GPS (Global Positioning System) circuit thatdynamically measures the position of the vending machine 170, athermometer and a humidity meter that respectively measure ambienttemperature and humidity of the installed place of the vending machine170, and so forth. Instead, the environmental information obtainingsection 181 may obtain such information from an external agency or thelike through the network without such measuring devices.

In the information processing system 150, the audio data selectiondetermining section 173 operates to select a predetermined effect soundwhen a predetermined condition is satisfied. The audio data selectiondetermining section 173 has been set so that it reproduces apredetermined effect sound in a normal state. In the examples of theinformation processing systems according to the second and thirdembodiments, they have been set so that different effect sounds areoutput depending on whether a settlement has been successfully made.

However, in this example, effect sounds are selected according toconditions composed of much more information including data suppliedfrom the environmental information obtaining section 181. Examples ofselected effect sounds are shown in FIG. 12.

In condition 1 shown in FIG. 12, when balance information denotes thatthe balance of electronic money is equal to or lower than apredetermined amount of money, music having a melody that causes theuser to feel anxiety such as a theme song of a horror movie is selectedas an effect sound. When the date on which a settlement of electronicmoney is made is the birthday of the user of the card 160, music thatcelebrates the birthday is selected as an effect sound.

According to the third embodiment, when the card 160 side has audio data164, they are preferentially used. However, when a condition as shown inFIG. 12 is satisfied, an effect sound corresponding to the condition maybe preferentially retrieved from a audio data recording section 180 ofthe vending machine 170 and the retrieved effect sound may be used.

When two conditions are simultaneously satisfied, one effect sound canbe decided according to a predetermined priority order of those thathave been set for each condition (a number described in field “priority”in FIG. 12). If a user who is younger than 20 years old tries to buy acommodity whose price is 30,000 yen or higher in a theme park, condition3 and condition 4 shown in FIG. 12 are simultaneously satisfied. Inaddition, the priority order of condition 3 is 3, whereas the priorityorder of condition 4 is 2. In this case, it is assumed that condition 4is satisfied and an effect sound, which is an alarm message,corresponding to condition 4 whose priority order is higher thancondition 3 (namely, the number of field “priority” shown in FIG. 12 ofcondition 4 is smaller than that of condition 3) is selected and output.

In this structure, even if the user has not recorded the audio data 164to the card 160, since various effect sounds are generated according topredetermined conditions, he or she can have a fresh impression while heor she is ordinarily operating electronic money. In addition, an effectsound that causes the user to draw attention to his or her operation isgenerated in predetermined conditions.

In addition, music selected in such a manner is identified by apredetermined identification number in the audio data recording section180 like the foregoing manner.

Next, an information processing system according to a fifth embodimentof the present invention will be described. An information processingsystem 200 according to the fifth embodiment is a modification of theinformation processing system 150 according to the fourth embodiment.Next, with reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the information processingsystem 200 will be described.

In the information processing system 200 shown in FIG. 13, a card 210has the same structure as the card 160 of the information processingsystem 150 shown in FIG. 11. A vending machine 220 has a structuredifferent from the vending machine 170 of the information processingsystem 150 in that an effect circuit 232 is added between an audio datadecoding section 228 and an audio output section 229.

The effect circuit 232 includes a circuit that compensates audio data,such as an audio quality compensation—gain compensation circuit (namely,a circuit that processes and/or transforms audio data). The effectcircuit 232 compensates effect sound data that are output from an audiodata decoding section 228 according to a compensation command receivedfrom an audio data selection determining section 223 and supplies thecompensated effect sound data to an audio output section 229. The effectcircuit 232 changes for example the sound quality, sound volume, and soforth of the effect sound without selecting the effect sound. Thus,while music, message, and so forth that compose the effect sound aremaintained, tone and volume of the sound are changed.

Predetermined conditions determined by the audio data selectiondetermining section 223 and contents of compensations correspondingthereto are for example as shown in FIG. 14. In condition 1, if the useris 80 years old or older, the selected effect sound is compensated sothat the tempo is slowed down, the sound volume is increased, and thehigh pitch sound is emphasized. In condition 2, if the balance ofelectronic money is equal to or lower than a predetermined amount ofmoney, the selected effect sound is compensated so that the tempo isspeeded up, the sound volume is increased, and the effect sound isemphasized, notifying the user that a serious situation is taking place.

In such a manner, the audio data selection determining section 223obtains necessary information from a user information obtaining section225, an environment information obtaining section 231, and so forth anddetermines whether these information matches the conditions shown inFIG. 14. When the these information matches one of the conditions, theaudio data selection determining section 223 commands the effect circuit232 to compensate the effect sound according to the condition. Inaddition, identification information of the selected effect sound istransmitted to the audio data decoding section 228. The effect circuit232 receives effect sound data of the selected effect sound from theaudio data decoding section 228 and compensates the effect sound data ascommanded.

Like in condition 4 and condition 5, when necessary, an image may bedisplayed or image data may be compensated. As described above,according to the embodiments of the present invention, image data can behandled in the same manner as audio data. In addition, like the fourthembodiment, when a plurality of conditions are satisfied, a compensationis performed according to a priority order. For example, when condition1 and condition 5 are simultaneously satisfied, a compensationcorresponding to condition 5 whose priority order is higher than that ofcondition 1 (namely, the number of field “priority” shown in FIG. 14 ofcondition 5 is smaller than that of condition 1) is preferentiallyperformed. In addition, when two conditions are simultaneouslysatisfied, compensations corresponding to these conditions can beperformed. For example, when condition 1 and condition 5 aresimultaneously satisfied, the tempo of the selected effect sound isslowed down, the sound volume is increased, and the high pitch tone isemphasized. In addition, a corresponding message is displayed.

In this example, unlike the fourth embodiment, an effect sound is notselected. However, in combination of the fourth embodiment and the fifthembodiment, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, a predeterminedeffect sound may be selected and a predetermined modification may beperformed for the selected effect sound.

When the vending machines according to the first embodiment to fifthembodiment are connected to the network, network type electronic moneycan be used to make settlements. In this case, user information such asan identification ID is sent to an electronic money settlement server orthe like disposed on the network. The electronic money settlement servermakes settlements.

The card that has been described as a structural element of the forgoinginformation processing systems may not have a card shape. Instead, thecard may be an information record medium having any structure. Forexample, the information record medium may be structured byincorporating a wireless IC tag in a portable device such as a mobilephone. In this case, it is thought that a wireless IC tag isincorporated independent from existing structural elements of a mobilephone or a wireless IC tag is incorporated in common with a part ofexisting structural elements of a mobile phone.

An example of the latter case will be described with reference to FIG.15. A mobile phone 600 is made up of a CPU 601, a ROM 602, a RAM 603, aflash memory 605, a user interface 604, an audio input/output circuit606, a wireless communication circuit 607, an RF tag interface 608, anda bus 609 that mutually connects these structural elements.

The CPU 601 controls the operation of each structural element of themobile phone 600 so as to accomplish both a function of a mobile phoneand a function of a wireless electronic money settlement. The ROM 602stores a program that accomplishes the function of the conventionalmobile phone and the function of the wireless electronic moneysettlement. The CPU 601 controls each structural element according tocommands issued by the operation of the program. The RAM 603 is used totemporarily store data while the program is operating.

The flash memory 605, which is a kind of a EEPROM, stores information ofaddresses used for the mobile phone and audio data and image data usedin association with a settlement of electronic money. In this example,since the mobile phone 600 has both the function of the mobile phone andthe function of the electronic money settlement, audio data that areoutput when a call is terminated and audio data that are output when asettlement of electronic money is made according to the presentinvention can be shared. In addition, the flash memory 605 stores userinformation and balance information used to make a settlement ofelectronic money.

The user interface 604 is disposed mainly for the mobile phone. The userinterface 604 is for example push buttons used to input a telephonenumber and information and a display that indicates text information andimage information. The audio input/output circuit 606 and the wirelesscommunication circuit 607 are structural elements that accomplish thefunction of the mobile phone. A user's voice that is input from amicrophone of the audio input/output circuit 606 is sent to the wirelesscommunication circuit 607. The wireless communication circuit 607converts the user's voice into predetermined data and wirelesslytransmits the converted data to a base station according to apredetermined protocol. On the other hand, a voice of the communicationparty is sent from the base station and received by the wirelesscommunication circuit 607. Thereafter, the audio input/output circuit606 converts a received signal of the voice into an audio sound andprovides the audio sound to the user.

The RF tag interface 608 controls communications with the reader/writerof electronic money, converts user information and balance informationstored in the flash memory 605 into a transmission code, and transmitsthe converted data to the reader/writer. The balance information isupdated on the basis of data transmitted from the reader/writer. Asdescribed above, the contactless IC card type electronic money obtainspower from radio waves generated from the reader/writer. However, inthis example, since the information processing system is incorporated inthe mobile phone 600, communications with the reader/writer are madeusing a power supply of the mobile phone 600.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1, 50, 100, 150, 200 INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM-   10, 60, 110, 160, 210 CARD-   11, 61, 111, 161, 211 MEMORY-   12, 62, 112, 162, 212 USER INFORMATION-   13, 63, 113, 163, 213 BALANCE INFORMATION-   14, 114, 164, 214 AUDIO DATA-   15, 65, 115, 165, 215 ENCODING CIRCUIT-   20, 70, 120, 170, 220 VENDING MACHINE-   21, 71, 121, 171, 221 OPERATION DETECTING SECTION-   22, 72, 122, 172, 222 COMMODITY INFORMATION OBTAINING SECTION-   23, 73, 123, 173, 223 AUDIO DATA SELECTION DETERMINING SECTION-   24, 74, 124, 174, 224 DECODING CIRCUIT-   25, 75, 125, 175, 225 USER INFORMATION OBTAINING SECTION-   26, 76, 126, 176, 226 BALANCE INFORMATION OBTAINING SECTION-   27, 127, 177, 227 AUDIO DATA OBTAINING SECTION-   28, 78, 128, 178, 228 AUDIO DATA DECODING SECTION-   29, 79, 129, 179, 229 AUDIO OUTPUT SECTION-   77, 130, 180, 230 AUDIO DATA RECORDING SECTION-   181, 231 ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION OBTAINING SECTION-   232 EFFECT CIRCUIT-   S10 HAS USER OPERATED VENDING MACHINE?-   S11 OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT SELECTED COMMODITY.-   S12 PROMPT USER TO MAKE SETTLEMENT OF ELECTRONIC MONEY.-   S13 HAS USER PRESENTED CARD?-   S14 DECODE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM CARD.-   S15 OBTAIN USER INFORMATION AND BALANCE INFORMATION.-   S16 DETERMINE EFFECT SOUND TO BE REPRODUCED.-   S17 OBTAIN EFFECT SOUND DATA FROM IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION.-   S18 DECODE EFFECT SOUND DATA.-   S19 OUTPUT EFFECT SOUND.-   S20 HAS USER OPERATED VENDING MACHINE?-   S21 OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT SELECTED COMMODITY.-   S22 PROMPT USER TO MAKE SETTLEMENT OF ELECTRONIC MONEY.-   S23 PRESENT CARD.-   S24 DECODE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM CARD.-   S25 OBTAIN USER INFORMATION AND BALANCE INFORMATION.-   S26 DETERMINE EFFECT SOUND TO BE REPRODUCED.-   S27 HAS CARD AUDIO DATA?-   S28 OBTAIN EFFECT SOUND DATA FROM CARD.-   S29 OBTAIN EFFECT SOUND DATA FROM VENDING MACHINE.-   S30 DECODE EFFECT SOUND DATA.-   S31 OUTPUT EFFECT SOUND.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus,comprising: a first memory configured to store at least a plurality ofaudio data; a contactless communication interface configured to receivefirst information from a communication device comprising a second memoryfor storing at least the first information when the communication deviceis touching the information processing apparatus, the first informationbeing generated by encoding second information; a network interfaceconfigured to connect to the Internet; a decoder circuit configured toextract the second information by decoding the first information; and acontroller circuit configured to determine an age of a user of theinformation processing apparatus from the second information, select aselected audio data from the plurality of audio data based on the secondinformation and a current date, the selected audio data beingdistributed to the information processing apparatus via the Internet,select one or more audio compensation based on the determined age of theuser of the information processing apparatus, apply the selected one ormore audio compensation to the selected audio data to producecompensated audio data, output the compensated audio data, and determinean amount of electronic money associated with the communication device,and further select at least one of the selected audio data and the oneor more audio compensation based on the determined amount of electronicmoney.
 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the second information includes at least identificationinformation.
 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim2, wherein the second information further includes variable information.4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, whereinthe variable information represents a balance.
 5. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising adetecting circuit configured to determine whether the communicationdevice is touching the information processing apparatus.
 6. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 5, furthercomprising a speaker configured to reproduce a predetermined soundcorresponding to the compensated audio data.
 7. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a displayconfigured to reproduce a predetermined image corresponding to theselected audio data.
 8. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 7, wherein the controller circuit refers to a table to selectthe selected audio data.
 9. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configuredselect the selected audio data based on at least one of temperature,humidity, and wind speed.
 10. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured todetermine a handicap of the user from the second information and furtherconfigured to select the one or more audio compensation based on thedetermined handicap.
 11. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the selected one or more audio compensation producesthe compensated audio data having a different tempo, volume, andemphasized pitch than the selected audio data.
 12. A method for aninformation processing apparatus, the method comprising: storing, in afirst memory, at least a plurality of audio data; receiving, usingcircuitry, first information from a communication device that includes asecond memory for storing at least the first information when thecommunication device is touching the information processing apparatus,the first information being generated by encoding second information;connecting to the Internet using a network interface; extracting, usingthe circuitry, the second information by decoding the first information;determining an age of a user of the information processing apparatusfrom the second information; selecting, using the circuitry, a selectedaudio data from the plurality of audio data based on the secondinformation and a current date, the selected audio data beingdistributed to the information processing apparatus via the Internet;selecting one or more audio compensation based on the determined age ofthe user of the information processing apparatus, applying the selectedone or more audio compensation to the selected audio data to producecompensated audio data, outputting the compensated audio data,determining an amount of electronic money associated with thecommunication device, and further selecting at least one of the selectedaudio data and the one or more audio compensation based on thedetermined amount of electronic money.